Coupling for jacketed conduit systems



June 10, 1924. 1,497,652

' F. A. BROWNE COUPLING FOR JACKETED CONDUIT SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 12 1921 I N VE N TOR: WITNESS flunk ii Browne,

' 6 Pennsylvania,

Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES FRANK A. BROWN'E, OF WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA,

COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GIN'IA.

ASSIGNOR TO THE BARBER A. CORPORATION W151 vm- COUPLING FOR JACKETED COND UIT SYSTEMS.

Application filed November 12, 1921. Serial 1T0. 514,785.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. BROWNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wayne, county of Delaware, and State of have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings for J acketed Conduit Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to couplings useful in uniting or joining, in axial continuity, adjacent sections of double or jacketed conduit systems such as employed, for example, in conducting asphaltum compounds or 16 similar viscous materials which must be maintained, by means of a suitable heating medium, in a molten or semi-fluid condition before transfer through piping may be effected.

In forms of couplings heretofore desi ed for jacketed conduits, it has been di cult not only to prevent cross leakage between the inner pipes of the conduit and the jack eting at the junctures of adjacent sections, but, what was exceedingly more troublesome, to ascertain the exact location of such leaks when they did occur, which, in some cases, required dismantling of the entire conduit system because the leaks were so seldom apparent from the exterior. I am aware that the use of separate piping has been suggested for connecting the jackets of adjacent conduit sections which were bridged across the couplings at the exterior, and one of the objects of my invention is to eliminate such exterior connecting pipes.

The main object of my invention is to obviate the unsatisfactory conditions alluded to and to secure this desideratum in a coupling which is entirely self-contained,

and has embodied in it, means whereby leaks may be immediately detected and their exact location ascertained.

Other subsidiary objects and attendant advantages of my invention will become readily apparent from the detailed descriptionof a typical embodiment of my invention which follows.

In the drawings, Fig. I is an illustration partly in elevation and partly in axial section of a portion of a double or jacketed conduit at the region of juncture of two adjacent sections thereof, and showing the sections connected by a coupling conveniently embodying my invention in one form.

Fig; II is a cross section of the conduit viewed in thedirection of the arrows 11-11 in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a View similar to Fig. II taken along the plane of the face of one of the flange members of the coupling as indicated by the arrows III-III in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a perspective view of a gasket employed in the form of m invention illustrated in Figs. I, II- and III.

Fig. V is a detail section similar to Fig. I, of a modified form of my invention, and

Fig. VI is a perspective view of a gasket used in connection with the latter embodiment.

Referring first to the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. Ito IV, it will be observed that the coupling comprehensively indicated at 1 comprises two flange elements or members 2, 2 which are exact counterparts of one another and fitted to the ends of adjacent sections 3, 3 of the double or jacketed conduit. After being properl attached to the conduit sections as wil be hereinafter expl'ained,'the two flange members of the coupling are secured together, with a gasket interposed between their opposed faces by'clamp bolts 5, 5. Said flange elements have central openings 6 which are threaded 'to receive the ends of the inner pipes 7 of the adjacent conduit sections 1, and also axial bosses 8 into which the ends of'the outer pipes 9 of the conduit sections are screwed.

The annular interspaces or jackets 10 between the two pipes of the conduit sections are not directl continuous like the inner of said pipes ut communicate through a passage 11 jointly formed by registering ducts in the flange members as clearly shown in Fig. I... Said passage comprises branches 12 which extend substantially radially of the flange members through integral lugs or protuberances 13 of the latterf'and a connecting cross branch 14 extending in a. direction parallel to the conduit axis. The cross branch 14 is located preferabl at a distance comparatively remote from t e central openings 6 of the flange members 2 so that ample surface area of the flange faces is afforded between said cross branch and the inner pipes 7 of the conduit sec- I the periphery o central tions for contact with the gasket 4. By this arrangement the possibility of leakage, at the regions aforesaid, is reduced to a minimum. The radial branches 12 of the passage 11 are I? preferencqcontinued to t e flange members and their outer ends closed by removable screw plugs such as conventionally represented at 15 in the drawings whereby access may be readil had to the passage in case the latter shoul for any reason, become stopped or clo ged.

t a point preferably midway between the openings 6 and the cross branch 12 of the passage 11, the continuity of the faces of the flange members 2 is mterrupted by narrow de ressions or rooves 16. It will be observe more especially from Fig. III, that said grooves extend crosswise of the flange faces and that their ends are open to the exterior at the periphery of the coupling. The extremities 17 of the grooves are branches extending substantlally radiall 0 preferably extended in of the conduit as shown, ried beyond the branch 14 of the passage with conseuent amplification of effective surface area or contact with the gasket 4.

In the event of failure of the gasket 4,

directions radially the existence of 'a leak in the coupling in noted. Moreover,

the area adjacent the grooves between the H flan e members will be manifested by fluid discharge from the ends of the grooves.

Thus in a conduit system where a multib plicity of such couplmgs are employed, not only can leakages be instantly detected but their exact locations ascertained as well and without necessitating dismantling of any extensive portion of the entire conduit system before the source of trouble can be found as required in instances hereinbefore by institution of means such as .above described, cross leaka e between the inner pipes and jackets of ouble conduits at the region of juncture of adjacent sections thereof is prevented since escape of fluid from either of the two or both in the area adjacent the grooves is conducted to the exterior through the grooves.

eferringnow to Fig. V of the drawin s, the structure there shown is generafiy similar to that of Fig. I, and similar reference numerals have been employed to indicate those 1parts which correspond. In this case it wi be perceived that the grooves in the flange faces are absent but an equivalent therefor is provided b making the asket 20 in two parts as shown in Fig. I, so that when assembled with the other elements of the coupling an intervening channel 21 is afforded by which any leakage may find its way to the exterior as before. The division of the gasket, as will be apparent from Fig. VI, is so ordered that the channel 21 corresponds both in conand purposel car-- the bolt holes directly ad acent rooves 16.

wever, I do not wish to con to the exact confi ration of the two sket parts shown in VI, since it is o vious that the channel 21 ma be of any shape desired and still accomplish the purposes set forth herein.

ile I have shown and described my invention as embodied in a coupling, it is to be understood that its characteristic principles may, with attainment of advantages similar to those pointed out, be incorporated in other fittin used in double conduit systems such as s, elbows, crosses, etc., and also in joints with valves.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A coupling for uniting adjacent sections of jacketed conduits affording a passage for communication of the jacketing of the .conduit section, said assage havin the conduit, a connecting branch exten in in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the conduit at a distance comparatively remote therefrom, and a groove in the face of the coupling for manifesting any leaka e thereat.

2. coupling for uniting adjacent sections of jacketed conduits comprising opposed ange members afl'ordin jointly, a passa for communication of t e jacketing of t e conduit sections, said passage being formed y registering ducts 0 said flange members and comprisingbranches extending substantially radially of the conduit, a connectin branch extending in a direction substantially parallel to the conduit axis at a distance comparatively remote therefrom, and a groove in the face of each flange member lying between the inner conduit and the passages in the faces of the opposed flanges which communicate with the jacketing space.

3. A cou ling for uniting adjacent sections of jac eted conduits affording a passage for communication of the jacketing of the conduit sections, said passage havin branches extending substantially radially 05 the conduit to the periphery of the cou ling and a connectin branch extending in a ireetion substantialy parallel to the axis of the conduit; and removable plugs for closing the open ends of the radial branches of the passage at the periphery of the cou ling.

4. A coupling for uniting adjacent sections of jacketed conduits comprising opposed flange members afiording openings for communication of both the inner pipes of the conduit sections and their jacketing, communication between the jacketing being established by opposed radial passages in said flange members and connectin branches parallel to the axis of the conduit, and also,

1n the plane of abutment of the flange faces and at a region intermediate the openings aforesaid, a groove by aid of which the existence of leaks is manifested through fluid discharge at the exterior of the cou ling.

5. A coupling for uniting a jacent sections of jacketed conduits comprising opposed flange members whereby the mner pipes of the conduit are connected in axial 20 pipes of the conduit are connected in axial continuity and which afiords, at a distance beyond the aligned pipes, a passage for communication of the acketin of the conduit sections, in combination wit a gasket interposed between the opposed faces of the flange members, said gasket comprising two segments which are spaced to afford between them a groove extending across the coupling intermediate the inner conduit ipe and the passage aforesaid whereby fallure of the gasket is manifested through fluid discharge at the exterior of the coupling.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 2nd day of November, 1921.

FRANK A. BROWNE.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL,

E. L. FULLERTON. 

